The Skills in Demand visa, explained
Settledin Team4 min readThe Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is now the main way Australian employers sponsor workers from overseas. It replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024, and employer sponsored visas grew more than any other category in the 2026–27 Migration Program: 58,040 places, up from 44,000 the year before.
If you are looking for a job with sponsorship, or your employer has offered to sponsor you, this guide explains how the Skills in Demand visa works, what you need to be paid, what it costs and how it can lead to permanent residence.
What is the Skills in Demand visa?
The Skills in Demand visa is a temporary visa that lets you work in Australia for an employer who sponsors you. You can stay for up to 4 years, or up to 5 years if you hold a Hong Kong passport. Your partner and children can be included in your application.
Three things have to line up:
- An approved sponsor. The employer must be approved by Home Affairs to sponsor workers.
- A nominated job. The employer nominates the role, and the job and salary must meet the rules of one of the three streams.
- Your application. You show you have the skills, experience and English the role needs, and meet health and character requirements.
What are the three streams?
| Stream | Who it is for | Salary rule |
|---|---|---|
| Core Skills | Occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List. You need at least 1 year of relevant work experience. | At least the Core Skills Income Threshold, and the market rate for the role |
| Specialist Skills | Highly paid roles in most occupations, including managers, professionals, community and personal service workers, clerical and sales roles. Trades, machinery operators, drivers and labourers are not eligible for this stream. | At least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold |
| Labour Agreement | Employers with a labour agreement negotiated with the government | Set by the agreement |
The Core Skills stream only covers occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List.
What is the minimum salary from 1 July 2026?
The threshold that applies depends on when the employer lodges the nomination, not when the visa application is made (salary requirements).
| Threshold | Nominations lodged 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 | Nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Core Skills Income Threshold | $76,515 | $79,423 |
| Specialist Skills Income Threshold | $141,210 | $146,576 |
Two things to know:
- Market rate still applies. For the Core Skills stream, your salary must be at least the threshold and at least what an Australian worker in the same job would earn. A role that pays exactly the threshold may still fail if the market rate is higher.
- It matters for permanent residence too. The Core Skills Income Threshold also applies to nominations for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), the permanent visa most 482 holders move to.
How much does it cost?
From 1 July 2026, the visa application charge for the main applicant is $4,015, up from $3,210. Each adult family member included in the application is also $4,015. Lower charges apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.
Employers pay their own sponsorship and nomination costs separately. Health checks, police certificates and skills assessments, if needed, add to the total.
Can a 482 lead to permanent residence?
The Skills in Demand visa is temporary, but every stream can lead to permanent residence through the Temporary Residence Transition stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
To apply, you usually need to:
- hold a 482 (or 457) visa, or an eligible bridging visa
- have worked in eligible sponsored employment for at least 2 years full time while holding a 482 or 457
- have a nomination from your employer that was approved in the 6 months before you apply
The application needs to show the 2 years of sponsored work.
If your job ends
Your visa is tied to working for a sponsor. If you stop working for your employer, you have a limited time to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa or leave Australia. The conditions are listed on the visa grant notice, and the time limit runs from the day the employment ends.
What changed in 2026
- Higher thresholds. Both income thresholds rose on 1 July 2026.
- Higher charges. The main applicant charge rose by about 25%.
- More places. Employer sponsored places rose to 58,040 in the 2026–27 program (planning levels).
- New processing order. In September 2026 the government changed the order in which skilled visas are processed. Home Affairs warns that published processing times may move around while this settles.
Find employers who can sponsor you
A sponsored job needs an employer who is approved to sponsor. The Settledin job board focuses on roles with accredited employers who can sponsor workers. Read more about how the Settledin job board works.
Search sponsored jobs on Settledin
Frequently asked questions
Is the Skills in Demand visa the same as the TSS visa?
It replaced the TSS on 7 December 2024 and kept the same subclass number, 482. The streams, salary thresholds and rules changed.
What is the minimum salary for a 482 visa in 2026?
For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, at least $79,423 for the Core Skills stream and $146,576 for the Specialist Skills stream. Core Skills roles must also pay the market rate.
How much work experience do I need?
At least 1 year of relevant work experience for the Core Skills stream.
Can a 482 visa lead to permanent residence?
It can. A 482 holder who has worked in sponsored employment for at least 2 years full time can usually be nominated by their employer for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can be included. Each adult family member pays the same charge as the main applicant.
This article describes published Department of Home Affairs rules. It is general information, not migration advice. For advice on your situation, speak to a registered migration agent. Check the register. Thresholds, charges and pathway rules were checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 3 October 2026.